The Faculty of Economics and Business of Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB UGM) has initiated a community empowerment program to raise awareness of waste management and sorting. The program, titled “Sharing Knowledge of Sinduadi Sleman Asri” (BISSA), is a community service initiative based in a foster village to empower residents along the banks of the Code River in Sinduadi Village, Sleman Regency.
BISSA program director Qisha Quarina, S.E., M.Sc., Ph.D., explained that this initiative was driven by concerns about inadequate waste management practices in D.I. Yogyakarta, particularly in the riverbank area of Padukuhan Sendowo, Sinduadi Village, Mlati District, Sleman Regency. Its relatively remote location makes it easier for waste collectors to access. As a result, residents often dump or burn waste near the river, causing environmental problems, especially flooding and water pollution during the rainy season.
The BISSA program ran from April to October 2024. It included various activities such as socialization, focus group discussions, waste management, sorting training, and a comparative study with Panggungharjo Village in Bantul Regency, known for its successful waste management practices.
Qisha hoped to expand the BISSA program beyond Sendowo to other areas in Sleman. With the support of the community and the government, she hoped the program would raise awareness of the importance of waste management for environmental sustainability, which aligns with efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, she acknowledged the challenges of implementing the program widely. “It is quite difficult to change the community’s behavior to be aware and able to manage waste properly. This is both a challenge and a motivation for us to expand to the regency level of Sleman in the future,” Qisha said.
A resident of the BISSA program, Dewi Ratna, S.Pd., noted that many residents are unaware of the adverse effects of indiscriminate dumping and burning waste. So far, only some residents know how to separate recyclable and non-recyclable waste properly, so waste is often dumped on the riverbanks or burned. She hopes the BISSA program will raise awareness of waste management among residents and bring economic benefits to the community.
Reportage: Najwah Ariella Puteri
Editor: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
Sustainable Development Goals
